Dili – Eight East Timorese anti-independence militiamen have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from four to eight years for crimes against humanity committed in 1999, Dili's UN- backed Serious Crimes Unit (SCU) announced Monday.

The SCU said the eight former members of the pro-Indonesia SAKUNAR militia were found guilty of committing various crimes against humanity in the East Timorese enclave of Oecusse around the time of the occupied territory's plebiscite for independence from Jakarta.

The condemnations Friday raised to 63 the number of convictions for crimes against humanity gained by the SCU, which was created by the UN and Timorese authorities in 2001.

In all, the SCU has brought charges against 391 people, most of whom are thought to be in Indonesia, outside Dili's reach.